Sep
30
Non-Fiction vs. Fiction
Filed Under Non Fiction | Leave a Comment
I tend to go through phases where I read only non-fiction and then only fiction. I think that there are benefits to both types of reading.
The major benefit of non-fiction reading for me is education. I read in order to learn. I’ll pick up a book on buying a home and it will help me later when I’m trying to look at Tampa FL homes for sale or to choose a Tampa FL realtor. I’ll read a book about the economy and I’ll better understand the news that is being put out about today’s recession.
Not all reading has to be educational though. The major benefit of fiction reading for me is that it provides an escape into another world. Some fiction does challenge me to think but most of it just transports me to a different space and provides me with relaxation.
The happy medium for me is the memoir or autobiography. This is a non-fiction account of someone’s life that is usually educational for me. And yet, it’s told like a story so it’s also got the benefits for me that I receive when reading fiction. I suppose that’s why memoirs are my favorite type of books to read.
Sep
24
Use Your Weaknesses to Your Advantage
Filed Under Advertising | Leave a Comment
There are a lot of great things about the Internet. However, there are some negative things as well. One of those negative things is that its really easy for people to find things out about you these days. That’s why it’s so important that you learn how to identify your weaknesses and use them to your advantage.
Let’s say that you started a small business a couple of years ago. It didn’t go well and you ended up in a lot of debt. Now you’re trying to start a new business. You’re afraid that the people you’re approaching for investment are going to find out about that other business and be wary of working with you. You should be afraid if you haven’t learned to work this to your advantage.
In this case, you’d want to highlight what you learned from the experience. Did you go through a corporate debt negotiation to deal with your issues? If so then you can turn this problem around and say how it’s given you invaluable experience with debt consulting. Take it upon yourself to advertise your own weaknesses but spin them as strengths. The information is already out there; the goal for you is to control the message that is received.
Jul
29
After nearly forty years of being an avid real estate investor, I have decided that it is time for me to retire. If it wasn’t for my bad health, I would have certainly continued, but there comes a point in every man’s life that they reflect on what is truly important, and spending my remaining time here on Earth with my family is what is dearest to me.
But I would like to think that my foray into the world of investing has not only helped people in our community, but touched the charities as well. I know that some of my real estate investment coaching students have gone on to do wonderful things and one of them even built the local art gallery as a donation to our fine city.
I still get mail from time to time from people who have bought my real estate investment training courses thanking me for the changes that I have happened in their lives. I still get a smile on my face when I read their success stories and I feel happy that I had an effect on so many people.
I just hope that some of my children follow in my footsteps and live a life serving others – that is a pathway to happiness.
Jun
5
Housing Market: Is The Worst Over?
Filed Under Real Estate | Leave a Comment
Any economist will tell you that markets are cyclical. Things go up, things go down. The tide comes in, the tide goes out. I could go on with the analogies, but you get the drift. This is about real estate though. And real estate is no different than any other market. A couple of years ago we saw the real estate market go way up. The tide really came in. Well now we have seen the market really come down. Yes, the tide is out.
But is it really all doom and gloom? Did the sky really fall in? I’m not going to sit here and deny that we had a mortgage crisis. It was indeed a veritable mortgage industry meltdown that has sent shockwaves through the entire economy. But relax people: this is just a cycle.
And the current signs are that we may be at the bottom of this bell shaped curve (that’s algebra 101). Home prices are still falling. Foreclosures are still on the rise. But here is the good news: Existing home sales are on the rise! They doubled in many areas over the last quarter. This is a huge economic indicator folks. Does this mean that the worst is over? I think it does!
May
7
Free Marketing For Realtors
Filed Under Advertising | 1 Comment
Today’s real estate market is a very tough one. And it is not just people who are trying to buy or sell a house that are suffering from this depressed market either. Those who make their living in the real estate industry are suffering too. The Realtors are starving! Quite a few of my colleagues have been either forced to take on extra jobs or have been completely forced out of the business.
That is why as a Realtor you need to take advantage of and make the most of any marketing opportunities that arise. This is particularly true when those marketing opportunities are free. And this is where social networking comes in. The big three social networking sites that Realtors can exploit in my opinion are Facebook, Twitter and MySpace.
Now before you shake your head and say “I’m too old to be on MySpace” maybe you should check to see if your competition already is. You can post your opinions as advice on these web sites. You can even place links to your own website in these blog type posts (links to your website is what determines the popularity of your web site in the eyes of search engines. And doing this is all quick, easy and best of all free.